It's hard to believe that it's still summer with more rain lashing down outside and a strong breeze blowing, although hopefully by the time that you read this, the sun will have appeared once more.

The ELAPs panto has been cast.  And very excited we are about it too.  Gill Bowness, who won plaudits for her first play this summer, has written the script for our very own version of Cinderella, weaving in strands that reflect her own experience with ELAPs in past productions and perhaps some of her pet hates!  If I tell you that that includes killjoy civil servants, perhaps it will leave you intrigued.

Certainly, not everything is quite as straightforward as you might expect in a panto.

We have two gorgeous hunky men, Kevin and Kevin, playing the Ugly Sisters - Salmonella and Diphtheria.  Gill herself is playing Cinderella's step-Mum, Umbrage.

Elly Bowness, who was rolling around the stage as Typhoo the Panda in last December's panto, returns as Cinderella with an off-stage persona rather different from her on-stage role.  Larissa Oates is Principal Boy again, this time playing the Prince with a lost glass slipper to place on somebody's dainty foot.

Richard and Lesley Hesk, and Celestine Stafford return to the boards as Dandini, The Fairy and Buttons.  Paul Weston is bringing along Jo Weston to perform the duo act of Alf and Sefty.  Thereby hangs a tale.

Sonya Oates, Nicky Doherty and Jarrod Makin are also back, but it would be spoiling the surprise if I told you who they were playing.

It's a large cast, with lots of parts in the chorus, and a massive undertaking for director Hayley Masom and producer Jean Makin.  Wardrobe Mistress, Madeline Lord, is already putting out requests for Grandad's braces (watch out Grandad!) and forewarning the cast that costume measurement is already in hand.

Want to lend a hand making costumes, or painting, or making props?  Come along and meet us in East Leake Village Hall from 7.30pm every Thursday evening.  More info and contact details at www.elaps.co.uk